Donald Trump, the President-elect, pleaded with a New York appeals court on Tuesday to overturn his conviction related to a hush money case before the sentencing set for Friday.

This request came after Judge Juan Merchan denied a motion to postpone the sentencing while the case is under appeal. Additionally, Merchan also dismissed Trump’s previous motion to invalidate the case, noting that Trump believed he was protected from prosecution due to his status as a former president.

Judge Merchan stated that to resolve the matter, it would be best to sentence Trump without imposing prison time, fines, or probation while the appeal process continued. He remarked that Trump’s plea for a postponement was largely “a reiteration of arguments he has presented multiple times before.”

Trump argues that a Supreme Court ruling in July, which granted immunity to former presidents regarding criminal charges arising from their official duties, shields him from the allegations in this New York case. However, Merchan clarified that the case pertains to Trump’s personal actions.

In May, Trump was found guilty of 34 counts related to falsifying business records. He had compensated his former attorney, Michael Cohen, who subsequently paid adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged encounter prior to the 2016 election.

This legal dispute is unfolding just two weeks before Trump’s scheduled return to the White House as he is set to be inaugurated on January 20. The appeal is currently being considered by the appellate division of New York’s first judicial department.

Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, who is poised to become the deputy attorney general if Trump returns to office, contended that this immunity should apply even during the transition back to the presidency.